440 or 383 Which do I choose?

[Dave22443]

June 27th, 2007

Well, here is my take on it.  I waiting for word on the price of a rebuilt 440 with 450 HP that a freind has.  If the price is right, I will have that in The Colonel.  If the price is not right, I will opt for teh 383 he has as well.  I want the 440 for the novelty of having one in my car.  That was always my dream.  I don't think gas consumption will be much different either.  Also, some have said to me that with a 440, look at the money you will spend in gas.  Well, lets say for example, todays price for the 93 Octane, is $3.30, and the 87 octane is $3.00.  With the way gas prices are, after you get a 440, the price for the 93 octane next year could be $2.50.   Basically, I'm saying don't worry about gas prices, and what money you will spend, because we never know where th eprices will be in the future.  Go with what you want!

Boy was that way off the mark! 

[terrible one]

What about a 360 or something? A happy medium, you know?

Of course, I say 440 over 383, but I've got a mild 383 because I couldn't pass it up for the price.

[tipopiola]

440!!!!!!!!!!!

[66chargerkid]

HEy with the stock 6 packs, a good tune, we were running 17 mpg before the birdy went kaboom. And with a crappy tune we were getting 13mpg. That was highway of course. But still you can get gas mileage out of these old cars at cruising speeds.
I am kinda split. I like my dads 440, the way it ran etc. But the 383 in roadrunner is a lil hot and seems like its more fun to play around with.
I am going to put a 383 in my charger but thats because it was an original 383 car. If I had the choice I think I would go with a 6.1L hemi.
But if I couldn't do that it would FO FOTY all the way

[bzabodyn]

I have a 383 stroked to 431 ci sitting around with a 833 4-spd that needs a home in a '69 superbee if I can ever find one... if it wasn't for me having the 383 on hand, I'd be gunning for a 440-powered car right now, so 440 it is!

A mild cam, ceramic-coated headers, 3in exhaust and your ready to eat up the road!

BZ

[Death1970Proof]

What about a 360 or something? A happy medium, you know?

Of course, I say 440 over 383, but I've got a mild 383 because I couldn't pass it up for the price.

I love this option!! Except my plans changed. Im going with a 360 thats gonna soon push 408 cubic inches. It'll run cooler than a big block and weigh less(better handling) to and the use of a beefed up 904 will take less hp to run than a 727. The 408 will produce so much torque its insane. A friend has one in a '74 duster ...it's sick fast!!!

[G-man]

I love this option!! Except my plans changed. Im going with a 360 thats gonna soon push 408 cubic inches. It'll run cooler than a big block and weigh less(better handling) to and the use of a beefed up 904 will take less hp to run than a 727. The 408 will produce so much torque its insane. A friend has one in a '74 duster ...it's sick fast!!!

Small block handles better than a big block?

Yes to some extent... unless you get an alloy block, then u get the light weight + torque of a big block.

However... the size of these cars (if ur talking a charger = 117" wheel base) big block small block, they suck for handling unless u throw 20 000 at the suspension setup, custom 18" wheels, shocks, dampers etc all dialed and tuned in propperly (which is hard to find some1 that can tune propperly), u got XV motorsports stuff, but expect huge $ also. Dont forget also that small blocks rev much higher and get power much higher in the rpm range, so they wont have that pull of a big block and they wll require more service than a big block also since they are under more stress.

[Wango Mango]

I don't want to dog the 383 too much    I've read other peoples opinions and agree that the 383 is also a great motor. I'm especially a fan of the stroker 383 - - 'caus thats a whole 'nutha matter!!!  Runs like a 440 - - and still looks like a stock 383.  Unfortunately, the drawback...... it costs a lot to build.  Sure makes a good sleeper!

If its the "stock, sleeper look" you want, get a 400 block (they're cheap) & stroke it to 451 or 472.  Hard to beat a low deck stroker & you can make it look like a 383.

[terrible one]

What about a 360 or something? A happy medium, you know?

Of course, I say 440 over 383, but I've got a mild 383 because I couldn't pass it up for the price.

I love this option!! Except my plans changed. Im going with a 360 thats gonna soon push 408 cubic inches. It'll run cooler than a big block and weigh less(better handling) to and the use of a beefed up 904 will take less hp to run than a 727. The 408 will produce so much torque its insane. A friend has one in a '74 duster ...it's sick fast!!!

Awesome idea. Wasn't there a write-up by one of the Mopar Magazines about the 408 stroker, building it on a budget, and it's insane dyno sheets? I swear there was. . . and it hit like the low 500's in torque too.

[MoParMetal]

this should make up your mind

[JimShine]

I would go mild 440. This way you can leave it as is if the car does what you want. Or you can spice it up later and have a decent platform that will take you as far as you want to go.

[Death1970Proof]

I love this option!! Except my plans changed. Im going with a 360 thats gonna soon push 408 cubic inches. It'll run cooler than a big block and weigh less(better handling) to and the use of a beefed up 904 will take less hp to run than a 727. The 408 will produce so much torque its insane. A friend has one in a '74 duster ...it's sick fast!!!

Small block handles better than a big block?

Yes to some extent... unless you get an alloy block, then u get the light weight + torque of a big block.

However... the size of these cars (if ur talking a charger = 117" wheel base) big block small block, they suck for handling unless u throw 20 000 at the suspension setup, custom 18" wheels, shocks, dampers etc all dialed and tuned in propperly (which is hard to find some1 that can tune propperly), u got XV motorsports stuff, but expect huge $ also. Dont forget also that small blocks rev much higher and get power much higher in the rpm range, so they wont have that pull of a big block and they wll require more service than a big block also since they are under more stress.

Yeah but who has $$$ for an alloy block???

[RoscoePColtrain]

Been outta commission writing my physics and chem finals and will be soon making the move to Houston.
I've finally decided to go with a 383 with performance heads and headers, mild 4 bbl carb, and 4 wheel disc brakes, oh and no AC.
Soon...

[Finn]

440 for the win!

The reaction is always some exclamation followed by a big evil grin and a lot of giddy snickering

When I get mine driving () Ill post up on how the fuel injection system performs.

[gordo1968charger]

as deputy crawford once said"go big or go home".

[Kevin68N71]

Can anyone suggest any decent modifications to push the 383 to about approximately 450 horsepower?

Although I was always leaning toward the 440 anyways, I just wanted to weigh my options.  What are stock MPG's for the 440 and 383?  What should I expect with a .030 over engine?

Roscoe, here are some articles for you.  The first was a build to try to get 450+ out of the 383....

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_0711_mopar_383/final_steps.html


Now, you want a step by step process with mostly bolt on parts to get 450 out of your 383?  Here it all is, with complete results.  This is an outstanding article, and I share it with you:

http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/155_0209_383_engine_restore/index.html

[RoscoePColtrain]

hey Kevin, Thanks for pointing out those articles, it was a great read and gave me some things to think about. 

[Kevin68N71]

No problem Roscoe.

The nice thing about the 383 (and the 440 for that matter) is that you can simply boly on so many performance accessories to offer real power gains, and just keep the old items on a shelf in your workshop.  I still have my original manifolds!

Don't let anyone tell you that you got to bore out your cylinders to get any performance gains, or a whole bunch of questionable machine work.  If your block and heads are in good condition, you are ready to upgrade.

Headers, intake, carb, Stage IV or V heads, Chrysler's Electronic Ignition setup, cam...these can all simply be bolted on and with a little fine tuning you have gobs of horsepower.  (Ok ok, the headers ARE a pain).

On my 68, all I ever did was play around with different carbs (I have an AVS on it now), moved to the Chryco Electronic Ignition, double chain timing gear, and headers.  The thing moves out like a beast, even with an automatic and "peg leg" rear end which I never changed out.